West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee extends Gutka ban for one more year

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has extended the ban on Gutka and Pan Masala across the state for another year, starting from 7th November. The decision has been announced by Health and Family Welfare Department of the state government through a notification on 25th October.

According to the notification, "the manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of Gutka and Pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients, by whatsoever name available in the market, is hereby prohibited for a period of one year."

According to the state Commissioner of Food Safety, the ban has been imposed as per provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, in the interesting of public health as tobacco or nicotine is injurious to health.

The notification has recalled the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) regulations 2011 prohibits the sale of food items that have tobacco or nicotine as ingredients. Gutka ban in West Bengal was first imposed in April 2013 by Mamta Banerjee government.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien in welcome the move tweeted, Since 2013, the West Bengal government has put a total ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of gutka and pan masala in the State. Now, it has been extended for another year. Good on us.

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